Stew Leonard's Coming To Clifton

It was announced about Stew, in one of those Clifton Magazines (I forget name) a few weeks ago.

I never heard of this store. What kind of store is it?

The item above is one of the very few where the Baristas have referenced actually making a follow-up phone call to double-check some information. I hope it continues.

Clifton, very near what seems to be the projected location for a Stew Leonard's liquor store, already has Bertelli's Liquors, founded by a former Heisman Trophy winner and run now by his son. Angelo Bertelli even used to display his trophy in his store for a few weeks every December.

I also noted that Stew Leonard's web site doesn't seem to mention the firm's troubles with the Feds a few years ago over tax evasion, whish as I recall resulted in a jail term for at least one member of the founding Leonard family. Some job seekers might like to know this, too, as well as how good the firm's benefits seem to be.

I've been wondering what they are building there. Thanks! Hmm wine managerial positions . . . I could live with that.

Stew Leonard Sr. no longer has anything to do with the company after serving 52 months in prison. It's a hugely popular store based in Norwalk. They have a petting zoo for kiddies outside the store.

"Honey, stop feeding the lamb chops...."

I'm totally confused. Are people in duck costumes going to be selling wine? If so, that would be refreshing!

Why the big hoopla if all we are getting is thier wine store? I doubt there will be a petting zoo outside the wine store. lol

I'll stick with Bloomfield's Bottle King, thank you!
Discounted spirits, overpriced cigars a Free parking lot and some so-so coffee next door, works for me.

Well, no, Spot the Looney, the patriarch may no longer have anything to formally do with the store. But his actions set a corporate tone, that is the real possible point, and 52 months is serious time, hardly a slap on the wrist if that's in fact what he did. No amount of chicken costumes and talking cows should be allowed to totally obscure certain other past aspects of the Leonard operation, I might suggest. I believe in spotting possible malfeasance as much as you do "loonies," perhaps.

Clifton already has one extremely aggressive spirits discounter in Shoppers Vineyard. Now it's going to get a second quite close by. I wonder if the intention is to have a price war.

While I would welcome a price war, I'm not looking forward to the increased traffic. That whole area by Rt. 3 is a nightmare. The infrastructure can't handle it.

Wait until you see what else they are building ajacent to it. It is going to be called the Promenade Shops at Clifton, with upscale clothing stores & restaurants. They are calling it a "lifestyle center" - one of several of its kind across the country. I found more about it on this site: http://www.pm-lifestyle.com/lifestyle_center/new/clifton/index.html I think it is comprised of 2 large buildings parallel to each other and Route 3. This will make for a LOT more traffic due to the huge increase in retail in that area. Also, there only seems to be one entrance to the whole thing from Rt 3 - the Friday's entrance.

This will be the third major shopping center, um, "lifestyle center" along Clifton's little section of Route 3 in what, 6 years?

Well, it's all about "location, location location", as they say. I suppose the resulting traffic congestion is just collateral damage from Clifton's desire to squeeze a few more eggs out of the golden goose in the never-ending quest for good ratables.

But if the City of Clifton's sole purpse was to sadistically muck up everyone's commute home on Route 3, I wouldn't know the difference. There is too much traffic entering, exiting, and on that road as it is.

Lifestyle center? That's amusing. You drive there, park in a lot, have a choice of a few stores and it's on the highway. Sounds like a strip mall to me despite the lovely decorative fountain in the middle.

If it's planned to be anything like the Promenade Shops in Saucon Valley, PA, it should be impressive.

But I agree about the traffic situation on Route 3. Logistically it's going to be a nightmare unless they end up having back ways onto local streets, which is another matter entirely.

so, no actual Stewies? Just wine, right?

That stinks.

This is not even a Stew Leonards.

Read the fine print at the bottom of their website.

"STEW LEONARD'S WINE STORES ARE INDIVIDUALLY OWNED AND OPERATED. THEY ARE NOT A COOPERATIVE BUYING GROUP AND ARE NOT PART OF THE STEW LEONARDS GROCERY CHAIN."

This is not even a Stew Leonards.

Read the fine print at the bottom of their website.

"STEW LEONARD'S WINE STORES ARE INDIVIDUALLY OWNED AND OPERATED. THEY ARE NOT A COOPERATIVE BUYING GROUP AND ARE NOT PART OF THE STEW LEONARDS GROCERY CHAIN."

This is not even a Stew Leonards.

Read the fine print at the bottom of their website.

"STEW LEONARD'S WINE STORES ARE INDIVIDUALLY OWNED AND OPERATED. THEY ARE NOT A COOPERATIVE BUYING GROUP AND ARE NOT PART OF THE STEW LEONARDS GROCERY CHAIN."